101 Gay Couples Say: "I Do" by Fenuxe Magazine Management

SOUTHERN WITH A GAY TWIST

07.03.2015 V6-15

“I Do” 101 GAY COUPLES SAY:

photo by josh hobgood

CALENDAR: 7 GREAT THINGS TO DO

OUT & ABOUT PHOTOS

101 GAY COUPLES SAY: I DO #LOVEWINS

THE NEW BLACK – MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN

MARRIAGE EQUALITY:

A GLOBAL TIMELINE HEY GIRL HEY

GAY NEWS AT A GLANCE

REACTIONS TO GAY MARRIAGE

FENUXE

07.03.2015

Contents

Scan the QR Code with your smart phone to like us on

23,334

LIKES

VISIT US ONLINE FENUXE.COM INFO@FENUXE.COM FOLLOW US ON

TWITTER.COM/FENUXEMAGAZINE

101 Gay Couples Say: “I Do” pg 24 photos by Josh Hobgood

FENUXE

TYLER CALKINS PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF TYLER@FENUXE.COM

Mike Stone - PUBLISHING/PRODUCTION Dino Thompson-Sarmiento - SENIOR WRITER Bobby Garrison - WRITER Mark Cook - FASHION PRODUCTION

ATLANTA MARKETING

Jeff Anderson | Sales Manager | jeff@fenuxe.com Andrea Dwyer | Sales | andrea@fenuxe.com

NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com

Phone: 404.835.2016 | Fax: 404.835.2356 Opinions and claims made by advertisers are those of the advertisers only. Fenuxe accepts no liability for any claims made by advertisers. The views and opinions expressed in this issue are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency of TW Media Group.

Fenuxe is proud to support:

COVER BY JOSH HOBGOOD

WANT YOUR EVENT FEATURED? SEND IT TO US AT INFO@FENUXE.COM FOOD

FUN

CELEBRATE AMERICA!

1ST ANNUAL WHITE WATER RAFTING

ATLANTA FOOD FESTIVAL

Now more than ever it’s time to celebrate how great it is to be an American! God bless the USA and God bless President Obama and our United States Supreme Court!! This fourth of July celebrate our Freedom at one of the amazing firework shows at Lenox Mall or Stone Mountain.

Brave the waters of the Ocoee River with 45 of your friends on Saturday, July 11! Price is $85 per person and includes transportation to and from BJ Roosters, equipment, breakfast + lunch, and snacks.

We sure hope you’re hungry because the annual Atlanta Food Festival is coming to the Cobb County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 11. Enjoy a variety of food from Atlanta’s own restaurants, caterers and food trucks. Free admission with a donation of a bookback filled with school supplies.

NEON TREES The infamous Neon Trees return to Atlanta for another mind-bending show. Catch them live at Center Stage, July 13th.

SHOW

TYLER OAKLEY Tyler, the adorable YouTube sensation, is packing up his living room and hitting the road to visit his “people” in Atlanta! Tyler Oakley’s Slumber Party is a one-of-a-kind live experience packed full of behind-thescenes stories, interactive games – and lots of surprises!

ANTHONY BOURDAIN’S: “CLOSE TO THE BONE Internationally renowned bestselling author, television host, and multiple Emmy-award winner Anthony Bourdain will perform on Saturday, July 11 at the Fox Theatre in a show that is unyielding and brutally honest look at the world.

MOVIE JULY 16

JULY 16

JULY 13

MUSIC

SHOW JULY 11

JULY 11

JULY 4

AMERICA

JULY 11

CALENDAR

JAWS – FOX THEATRE COCACOLA SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL As part of the Coca-Cola Summer Film Series, the Fabulous Fox Theatre will thrill and scare you with a presentation of the 1975 Steven Spielburg blockbuster: JAWS. Synopsis: When a young woman is killed by a shark while skinny-dipping near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief

Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) wants to close the beaches, but mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) overrules him, fearing that the loss of tourist revenue will cripple the town. Ichthyologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and grizzled ship captain Quint (Robert Shaw) offer to help Brody capture the killer beast, and the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature.

FENUXE.COM : 9

OUT & ABOUT

10: July 3, 2015

PHOTOS

AIDS WALK BEER BUST @ JOES ON JUNIPER PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT

FENUXE.COM : 11

OUT & ABOUT

12: July 3, 2015

PHOTOS

CIVIL RIGHTS RALLY #LOVEWINS! PHOTOS BY: WESLEY SEVIER

#LOVEWINS! @ 10TH & PIEDMONT PHOTOS BY: WESLEY SEVIER

PHOTOS

OUT & ABOUT

FENUXE.COM : 13

OUT & ABOUT

14: July 3, 2015

PHOTOS

101 GAY WEDDINGS @ THE INTERCONTINENTAL BUCKHEAD #LOVEWINS

PHOTOS

OUT & ABOUT

FENUXE.COM : 15

OUT & ABOUT

16: July 3, 2015

PHOTOS

DOGGIES ON THE CATWALK | A BENEFIT FOR PALS PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT

FENUXE.COM : 17

OUT & ABOUT

18: July 3, 2015

PHOTOS

BRINEY BASH FOR PRIDE @ THE EAGLE PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT

FENUXE.COM : 13

OUT & ABOUT

20: July 3, 2015

PHOTOS

SOUTHERN FRIED QUEER PRIDE KICKOFF DANCE PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT

Tuxedos!

I KNOW

REAL ESTATE And I am here to help !!!

Your House Here

SOLD

Buyers are competing for a limited number of homes, townhomes and condos. Have you been waiting for just the right opportunity to sell? I will list your home and do the hard work for you. I do everything I can to ensure your home sells quickly and for fair market value. Call me today and I’ll put my team to work for you!!!

J Brian Crawford Associate Broker, Realtor , ABR ®

mobile 404.643.4577 brian@atlantahomespecialists.com

www.atlantahomespecialists.com

Keller Williams Realty Metro Atlanta

Looking for a Career in Real Estate? We’re seeking talented individuals to join our growing team. Contact us at: info@atlantahomespecialists.com FENUXE.COM : 21

OUT & ABOUT

22: July 3, 2015

PHOTOS

SUNDAY FUNDAY @ BLAKES PHOTOS BY: JOSH HOBGOOD

CURRENT

101 GAY COUPLES SAY:

“I D

#LOVEWINS

FIFTY YEARS AGO, homosexuality was considered a mental illness, every state criminalized sodomy, the federal government would’t hire people who were openly gay or allow them to serve in the military. Police routinely raided gay bars. Only a handful of gayrights organizations existed, and their membership was few. Most Americans would have considered the idea of same-sex marriage a joke. This is why it’s so hard to believe that today we live in a state and a country where our love is legally accepted and law of the land! Two days after the Supreme Court issued thier historic decision officially legalizing gay marriage in all 50 states, Chef Art Smith hosted “101 Gay Weddings” at the the Intercontinental Hotel in Buckhead. The event took months to plan and it showed: It was absolutely beautiful and moving and there wasn’t a dry eye to be found. 24: July 3, 2015

Retired Major League Baseball Player Billy Bean, one of the first players to come out, served as the officiant of services following a prayer by author David Ault. “Welcome to your wedding day,” said Graham, who read Justice Anthony Kennedy’s majority opinion legalizing gay marriage in all 50 states in the United States: “They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law and the Constitution grants them that right.” After the couples exchanged vows and kissed many exchanged prolonged hugs with their new spouses and many wept. It was truly a beautiful outpouring of love! “All people should be treated equally, regardless of who they are or who they love.” - Barack Obama

FENUXE.COM : 25

â&#x20AC;&#x153;No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.â&#x20AC;? -Justice Anthony Kennedy

forthekid inallofus PRESENTS

ON-3:30 P.M. Leon Ave. SUNDAY, JULY 26the, NO Frazer Center, 1815 S. Ponce De Cator Woolford Gardens at

GARDEN PARTY BRUNCH BUFFET

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT SILENT AUCTION

FOR ENTRY, purchase a backinpaneck ed filled with school supplies for children

$30 at forthekid.org $40 at the door

SPONSORED

TICKETS & INFO:

forthekid.org

INTERVIEW

THE NEW BLACK MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN

Directed by Yoruba Richen, THE NEW BLACK is a documentary that tells the story of how the African-American community is grappling with the gay rights issue in light of the gay marriage movement and the fight over civil rights. The film documents activists, families and clergy on both sides of the campaign to legalize gay marriage and examines homophobia in the black community’s institutional pillar—the black church and reveals the Christian right wing’s strategy of exploiting this phenomenon in order to pursue an anti-gay political agenda. In addition to upcoming, widespread distribution, Promised Land Film recently partnered with The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, to award grants to seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to use THE NEW BLACK as a tool to advance on-campus LGBT inclusion. HRC Foundation and Promised Land Film view their effort as one that will encourage meaningful conversations on HBCU campuses around the intersections of racial and LGBT justice. The recipients are: Alabama State, Johnson C. Smith, Tennessee State, Spelman College, Howard University School of Law, Morgan State and North Carolina A&T State. 30: July 3, 2015

DINO: What is the historical significance of THE NEW BLACK on the current LGBT landscape? YORUBA: I was making The New Black at a time when the African American community was starting to have a conversation about LGBTQ issues in a way that had never happened before. It was dominating both our cultural and political discourse. President Obama pushed the issue as well–first ending the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy and then coming out for same-sex marriage. The NAACP soon followed and endorsed samesex marriage and then the state of Maryland, which has a significant black population, had a referendum on the issue during the 2012 election. This was the first same-sex marriage referendum after California’s Proposition 8. The movie documents this campaign and examines how the black community is grappling with the gay rights issue in light of the marriage movement and the fight over civil rights. I think it’s important to note that though the debate has been narrowly about marriage– its significance is much wider. What I discovered in making the film is that this is a struggle not only to gain our rights but also about LGBTQ acceptance from family, friends and society. The film captures these historic political shifts and also looks at how these conversations are happening in our homes, churches

BY DINO THOMPSON-SARMIENTO and communities. The main characters of the film are grappling with this issue on a political and also personal level, and the film has characters who both support and who are against same-sex marriage. I think the significance of the film is that I show that the African American community, like the rest of the country, is evolving on LGBTQ rights. In fact, we see that this is an area where the opinions and policy on this issue have changed at a rapid rate. When I started the film, it was unimaginable that 37 states would have legalized gay marriage. DINO: THE NEW BLACK takes a specific look at the African American religious community’s reaction to same sex marriage. What about that nuance is unique? YORUBA: With Proposition 8, there was an assumption by many LGBT activists that African Americans would automatically support marriage equality because of their own history of oppression. But a bitter lesson was learned when that did not happen. What I saw in Maryland five years later was that the activists who were working for marriage equality were untangling the layers of the issue and engaging African Americans in a way that hadn’t happened before. Conversations were happening about the black family, about what marriage has meant to us historically, how we weren’t allowed to marry who

we wanted to until the 1967 Loving decision which legalized interracial marriage. Also, discussions were ongoing about how LGBT people have always been in our families, churches and communities and were an essential part of the civil rights movement. African- American churches were at the heart of these conversations–this is where so much of our civil rights history and our community is centered. So it was very important for me to look at the role of the church and how it has been both a leading voice against LGBT rights and also how that stance is shifting. DINO: How does Caitlin Jenner lend to the overall LGBT plight? YORUBA: I’m not sure it does–more visibility and discussion of gender identity is a good thing, but I haven’t seen how her coming out as transgendered has advanced much except her own story and TV show. It will be interesting to see if this changes and she uses her visibility to become more an advocate on LGBT issues. DINO: Why did you title the film THE NEW BLACK? YORUBA: Initially the title referred to the provocative saying “Gay is The New Black.” This declaration offended a lot of folks when it appeared on the cover of the Advocate magazine in 2008. Many felt that that it was saying that black freedom struggle was over and now gay rights was the new civil rights issue. Ultimately though, the meaning of the title changed for me. It refers to the young black activists whose stories I tell in the film, who pushed their families, communities and churches to support marriage equality in Maryland and to understand gay rights as an expansion of civil rights. DINO: Tell me about the grant that allows you to show this film to Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs). YORUBA: We created a historic partnership with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) to award seven HBCUs with grants to use The New Black as a tool to advance on-campus LGBT inclusion and to support diversity efforts on their campuses. Students, faculty, staff and administrators were granted funds to host screenings followed by panel discussions. Some of the highlights include: Alabama State University used the opportunity to launch Amplified, it first LGBT student group. The LGBT Curriculum Committee at Spelman College used the screening to create a safe space for dialogue after homophobic incidents on campus left some students feeling unsupported and disillusioned. The resulting “town hall” generated strategies to improve campus climate around LGBT issues. The Women’s Studies Department at Morgan State created a “Dine and Dialogue” event for the university President, his senior staff and faculty members. I was super impressed with the creative and innovative ways these HBCUs used the film to foster awareness of LGBT issues and create more welcoming campuses. It is exactly the kind of partnership I envisioned when I made the film, and it is especially meaningful that these screenings and events took place in the South--the cradle of our civil rights movement. I’m excited that the program will be continuing next year. DINO: How can the rest of us see the film? YORUBA: You can rent the film via iTunes (itun.es/ us/RIFg7), Amazon, GooglePLAY and Vudu. You can also purchase the DVD via California Newsreel (http://newsreel.org/video/THE-NEW-BLACK). FENUXE.COM : 31

STORIES

Marriage Equality: A Global Timeline. BY PETER GARNET

The struggle for marriage equality has been moving forward for the last 15 years and now includes nearly two dozens countries who recognize the right for same-sex couples to marry since the first country legalized the marriages in 2000. The following is the timeline of the victories in that struggle. 2000. The Netherlands was the first country to legalize samesex marriage. In a three to one vote, a bill was passed by the parliament that gave save-sex couples rights to marry, divorce and adopt. Overall the legislation was accepted by a majority of the Dutch people, the only political opposition came from the Christian Democratic Party. As for the Church, most of the Protestants churches left the matter of same-sex marriage open for the individual congregations to decide whether or not to conduct the weddings. Muslim and conservative congregations still 32: July 3, 2015

continue to oppose the legislation and refuse to marry same-sex couples. 2003. The road to same-sex marriage in Belgium began in 1998 with limited rights by an act of the Belgian parliament that allowed for same-sex couples to register with city clerks as a joint household. Sameâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;sex marriage was fully legalized in January 2003 by the Belgian parliament giving same-sex couples the same inheritance and tax rights as heterosexual couples. There was some resistance from the Catholic Church and Christian Democrats by the law was widely accepted by a majority of the country. The law also recognized same-sex marriages performed in other countries where same-sex marriage was legal. The law was further expanded in 2006 giving same-sex couples the right to adopt. 2005. Same-sex marriage became legal across Canada in 2005 after the Canadian Parliament

The Netherlands was the first country to legalize gay marriage.

Michael Hendricks and RenĂŠ Leboeuf, celebrate being the first Canadian gay marriage.

passed legislation making samesex marriage legal in all thirteen provinces and territories. Prior to that common law status for same-sex couples began in 1999, in 2003 a series of court cases began which by 2003 resulting in same-sex marriage becoming legal in nine of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s provinces. The Conservative Party of Canada mounted and effort to challenge the law in 2006 and failed. 2005 also saw same-sex marriage become fully legal in Spain. The legislation allowed for the same rights for same-sex couples as heterosexual couples. The legislation was passed by a narrow margin. The Vatican and the Spanish Bishops Congress criticized the law and municipal courts raised challenges to the law that were later dismissed by the higher court. 2006. Same-sex marriage become legal in November of 2006 in South Africa a year after the previous laws restricting same-sex marriage were found to be unconstitutional because they violated

the constitutional guarantee of equal rights. Controversy over the law continues because the law allows for city clerks and churches the right to refuse to marry same-sex couples. 2009. Beginning in January of 2009 Norway legalized same-sex marriage and adoption. The law replaced a previous law passed in 1993, which permitted civil unions. The law was passed but not without a high level of opposition from Emilio Menendez and Carlos Baturin Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first gay couple to wed. the Christian Democrats and the Progress Party. One of the issues in the debate centered on state funding for fertility treatments for lesbian couples. The law allows clergy the right to refuse to perform same-sex marriages and many of the larger congregations in Norway have voted not to allow same-sex marriages by their pastors. April of 2009 saw same-sex marriage approved by a large majority in the Swedish Parliament; prior to that same-sex civil unions had been permitted since 1995. The law does not require clergy Vernon Gibbs and Tony Halls, South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first gay couple to wed. to perform same sex marriages

? Send us

List your

Special

& story

Annoucements

Call or email

your photos

Wedding

pricing

info@fenuxe.com | 404-835-2016

Iceland’s Prime Minister, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, and her partner, Jónína Leósdóttir

however by October of that year one of Sweden’s largest churches representing three quarters of the population voted to allow pastors to officiate at same-sex weddings. Mexico City legalized same-sex marriage in 2009, despite challenges the Supreme Court upheld the law. A year later in 2010 the court ruled that the Mexico City marriages were valid across the country, however to this date same-sex marriage is only legal in two of Mexico’s states, Quintana Roo and Coahuila. 2010. Iceland’s legislature gave unanimous thumbs up to samesex marriage in June of 2010. The legislation was passed without dissent and was supported by a majority of Icelanders. Following the vote, Iceland’s Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir and her partner Jonina Leosdottir became were married under the new law. June of 2010 also saw Portugal legalize same-sex marriage, legislation was passed earlier in 2010 however Portugal’s president,

One of Iceland’s first husbands pose by a geyser

Anibal Cavaco Silva, asked for a review of the legislation and the high court found the law to be constitutionally valid. Silva signed the measure in May that went into effect thirty days later granting the same rights to same-sex couples as heterosexual couples however samesex couples are still not allowed to adopt. Rounding out the year, Argentina became the ninth country to legalize same-sex marriage and the first in Latin America to do so. The legislation was passed in both houses of the Argentine legislature despite strong opposition from the Catholic and evangelical churches. The law signed by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner allows samesex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples including the right to adopt. 2012. Denmark becomes the next country to pass a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in June of 2012, following Queen Margrethe ll giving her royal aasent a few days later the bill became law. Prior

New Townhome Designs!

Towns at Druid Hills

Towns at Breton Ridge

Townhomes From the $470’s

Townhomes From the $370’s

For more information, please call Bakari Maxwell or Tarecia Johnson at 770.500.8635.

For more information, please call Heather Isaac or Jon Christensen at 678.627.0772.

Limited Time Only! Purchase a New Home and Receive:

$15,000 Flex Cash

$6,500 Toward Closing Costs!

– PLUS –

Waived 1% Origination Fee Through RMC Mortgage® (Average Value of $4,000)

In the Atlanta division, the Towns at Druid Hills and Towns at Breton Ridge communities only, homebuyers for to-be built homes on accepted purchase agreements signed between June 15, 2015 and July 31, 2015 are eligible to receive $15,000 in Flex Cash; can be used towards MyStyle® Design Center Options and/or closing costs when using RMC Mortgage® and/or lot premiums. Buyer also eligible to receive $6,500 in Closing Costs. Closing cost assistance available from Ryland Homes to those financing through RMC Mortgage® Corporation and closing with a closing attorney selected by Ryland. Amount of closing cost assistance may vary by product and community, and is subject to applicable contribution limitations. For all financing promotions, see a RMC Mortgage® Corporation Loan Officer for details. RMC Mortgage® Corporation is located at 1000 Mansell Exchange West, Suite 200, Alpharetta, GA 30022 and is a Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee, license number 24225 and NMLS number 203897. Buyers also eligible to receive Waived 1% Origination Fee through RMC Mortgage®; average value of $4,000 which is based on a $400,000 loan amount. The waived origination fee through RMC Mortgage® Corporation is subject to cancellation or change without notice. Buyers must make a loan application by July 31, 2015 with RMC Mortgage® Corporation (NMLS# 203897) a Georgia Residential Mortgage Lender Licensee #24225. *Buyers must also close with RMC Mortgage® Corporation. Please contact your RMC Mortgage® Corporation Representative for exact quotes. Prices, plans and specifications are subject to change without notice. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only. Towns at Druid Hills and Towns at Breton Ridge promotion may not be combined with any other promotion or incentives. Information shown believed to be accurate but not warranted. See a Sales Counselor for details on available promotions, restrictions and offer limitations. © 2015 The Ryland Group, Inc. RA1778

34: July 3, 2015

to 2012 same sex couples were permitted to register as domestic partners since 1989 and allowed to adopt since 2010. In Denmark the Evangelical Lutheran Church is the state church and required to allow same-sex marriages in their churches however clergy are not required to perform the weddings. All other denominations in Denmark can choose whether or not to allow same-sex ceremonies in their churches. 2013. The second Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage was Uruguay. President José Mujica signed the bill in May of 2012. Civil unions between samesex couples had been permitted in Uruguay since 2008; later in 2009 same-sex couples were granted the right to adopt. Also in May of 2013, Brazil’s National Council of Justice ruled that same-sex couples should be allowed marriage licenses nationwide, prior to that is was up to the individual jurisdictions. The Social Christian Party has appealed

the Council’s decision to Brazil’s Supreme Court. The Brazilian legislature could still weigh in on the matter leaving the future of samesex marriage uncertain. Same-sex marriage in France has been to say the least contentious. In April of 2013 a bill granting same-sex couples the right to wed passed in the National Assembly and the Senate, however a challenge by the conservatives delayed the law until France’s highest court ruled the bill constitutional. One of the main points of contention over the bill comes from the Catholic leadership over the provision granting same-sex couples the right to adopt children. Despite polls showing majorities of the public are in favor of samesex marriage, heavy opposition still produces large-scale protests that can number in the hundreds of thousands in Paris and other cities. In 2013 the first Asian-Pacific nation to legalize same-sex marriage was New Zealand. The final legislation passed in a three to one margin and included the support of the Prime

A Float in New Zealand celebrates marriage equality.

Minister John Key. On April 19th of that year the governor-general gave royal assent and the law went into effect in August of that year. The law also includes provisions for same sex couples to adopt children. In July of 2013, Queen Elizabeth ll gave her royal assent to a bill legalizing samesex marriage in England and Wales a day before the bill was passed by parliament. The law actually had the support of the Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister David Cameron as well. The law did not include Scotland and Northern Ireland, which are semi-autonomous

overwhelmingly voted to change the country’s marriage laws that had remained the unchanged since 1804. The changes granted samesex couples the right to marry and adopt children, changed the legal age to wed to eighteen and waived the requirement for a medical exam prior to marriage.

that he would not tell the people how to vote and had “no wish to cram his religion down other people’s throats.” June 2015. More than a decade after Massachusetts became the first state in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriage, the dreams and sacrifices of so many that fought for marriage equality were finally realized with the U.S. Supreme 2015. In February, Finland’ s Court’s decision based on the court’s The US Supreme Court’s Decision is president, Sauli Niinistö, signed a bill interpretation of the fourteenth met with cheers, tears, and lots and passed by The Finnish Parliament amendment of the constitution lots of hugs. back in November of 2014 that that limiting marriage only to and have separate legislative bodies legalized same-sex unions, the bill heterosexuals violated the guarantee to decide domestic which originally began as a “citizens- of equal protection under the law. issues. The Church of England initiative” won’t take effect until By the time of the ruling some 36 however is still excluded from the 2017. In may of 2015, 62% of the States had already legalized samelaw and continues to define marriage mostly catholic country Ireland sex unions. The acceptance for same as between one man and one voted to legalize same-sex marriage sex marriage by the public at large woman. through a public referendum that had been growing exponentially changed the country’s constitution’s over the past few years despite 2014. In February the Scottish language to say that “marriage may extreme resistance from right wing Parliament voted to approve the be contracted in accordance with law political groups and churches. The legislation giving same-sex couples by two persons without distinction law requires public officials across the right to marry while at the same as to their sex.” Although many of the land to issue marriage licenses time allowing for churches the the Catholic leadership opposed the to same-sex couple but does choice of whether or not to conduct referendum, Dublin’s Archbishop not require clergy to perform the same-sex marriages. In June of 2014, wrote in the Irish Times newspaper ceremonies. Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies

36: July 3 2015

A n A nnuAl C elebrAtion to S upport A tlAntA ’ S lGbtQ Y outh Join Us for an Evening of Food, Drink and Entertainment with special appearances by contestants from RuPaul’s Drag Race, Pandora Boxx and Courtney Act Enjoy the beats and playlist of DJ Vicki Powell all evening long!

Saturday, July 11, 2015 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

MaSon Fine art Dress Code: Your whitest whites General Admission: $50 in advance • $60 at the door VIP Admission: $125 /WhitePartyATL /Whiteparty_ATL Purchase tickets and find out more at

www.whitepartyatlanta.org

Attendees must be 21 or over.

HEY GIRL HEY

HOLLER POODLES!

Love Wins!! Yes, it is still kind of unbelievable but Love has won! Marriage equality has come to the United States of America. Our celebration is in full swing and our community is showing all of its diversified colors in full bloom. It is a celebration, a coming together & hopefully a turning point for each and every one of us. There are so many people who are responsible for us getting to this point and I want to say thank you to all of them! From our brothers and sisters at Stonewall to Harvey Milk and the protestors of every activist and or political AIDS group who put the faces and struggle of real Americans on the news. To the countless drag queens who have given tirelessly of their time and energy to unconditionally support benefits and shows while still facing stigma within the community. To The Human Rights Campaign who organized our movement to the Supreme Court and President Barack Obama whose plan may have been unclear to many but was strategic all along! And finally to all the individuals who dared lead their life with dignity in the face of discrimination and adversity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! You are all heroes in my book!! The enormity of the Supreme Court’s decision has hit some and yet others are still wrestling with what it truly means. For me, personally, it is the first time as a gay American that I feel on equal footing with the rest of Americans. While there are still issues to be decided (job security, etc.) this recognition somehow validates my existence. Seems weird to say it but that’s how I feel. Now, I think our immediate challenge is two-fold. While there will be the inevitable backlash as always (the pendulum swings one way, then the other) the way we respond to hate is critical. I believe in the law of attraction and what we put out there is what we can expect to get back. While we are not responsible for the hate people spew, we are responsible the words we choose to counter them.

In my mind this is simple... We treat each other how we want to be treated. Lead with love and respect. No two people will ever agree on every single thing. But our not agreeing on an issue doesn’t mean we have to tear each other down. It means we can agree to disagree. And I choose to lead with love and respect! In that same vain, our next challenge is to love each other fully. The racism, segregation, classism, etc all needs to go!!!! We are only as strong as our weakest length. Lets love each other despite our differences so everyone else can see our example. #LOVE WINS! Love and lashes,

Mary Edith Pitts Mary Edith Pitts

PS. If you have any questions, comments or feedback, please email me at maryedith99@gmail.com or on twitter @maryedithpitts 38: July 3, 2015

CURRENTLY HIRING Fenuxe Magazine is currently seeking

Sales Representatives Please submit resumes to info@fenuxe.com

Wednesday Nights at The Hideaway!

8:30pm Ruby Redd’s Birdcage Bingo Bring your friends and enjoy prizes, laughs, and scandalous pleasures! Then, stay after the show and…

11:00pm Karaoke with Tyler King …get those vocal chords warmed up because it’s time for karaoke! We’ll be serving $3 well drinks until 3 a.m.

1544 Piedmont Avenue • Atlanta, Georgia 30324 • (404) 874-8247 Visit us on the web at atlantahideaway.com • Ansley Mall behind Publix

Gay News At A Glance SOME STATES ARE STILL TRYING TO RESIST GAY MARRIAGE At the time of this writing county clerks in Texas will be able to turn away gay couples seeking marriage licenses, the state’s attorney general Ken Paxton (R) announced on Sunday. Clerks can refuse based on religious objections, Paxton told the Austin American-Statesman, and because the clerks will probably be sued, “numerous lawyers stand ready to assist clerks defending their religious beliefs,” he said. Texas was one of 13 states that banned gay marriage before the Supreme Court ruled on Friday that those bans were unconstitutional, effectively legalizing gay marriage across the country. Therefore, it’s not surprising that its lawmakers are trying to resist following the ruling. “Friday, the United States Supreme Court again ignored the text and spirit of the Constitution to manufacture a right that simply does not exist. In so doing, the court weakened itself and weakened the rule of law, but did nothing to weaken our resolve to protect religious liberty and return to democratic

self-government in the face of judicial activists attempting to tell us how to live,” Paxton wrote in the opinion. Lawmakers in Louisiana and Mississippi, which also previously had bans on gay marriage, are actively resisting the ruling by delaying its implementation. Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell (R) claimed that because the Supreme Court’s ruling did not include an official order for states to begin issuing marriage licenses to gay couples, “there is not yet a legal requirement for officials to issue marriage licenses or perform marriages for same-sex couples in Louisiana.” County clerks were instructed to hold off on issuing licenses for 25 days, the amount of time states are allowed to appeal the Court’s ruling. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R) said the Supreme Court “usurped” each state’s “authority to regulate marriage within their borders.” He and other state leaders are considering various legal options, including halting all marriage licenses.

POLICE IN TURKEY USE TEAR GAS TO DISPERSE GAY PRIDE PARADE Just as we were celebrating the freedom to marry, police in Turkey were firing water cannons and tear gas to clear out the streets of Istanbul Between 100 and 200 marchers were chased away from Taksim Square after a police vehicle fired several jets of water to disperse the crowd. Organizers of the march released a statement saying the Istanbul governorship was not allowing the procession, citing the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Fortunately being gay isn’t a crime in Turkey — unlike in several other Muslim countries — homophobia remains obviously widespread.

40: July 3, 2015

18 CORPORATE TWEETS WE LOVED Major companies rushed to show they were celebrating after the Supreme Court announced its historic ruling to legalize our love. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really wonderful to see the outpouring of love for equality and our community. Here are 18 of our favorite corporate tweets:

POP CULTURE REACTIONS

“This morning, the Supreme Court recognized that the Constitution guarantees marriage equality. In doing so, they have reaffirmed that all Americans are entitled to the equal protection of the law; that all people should be treated equally, regardless of who they are or who they love.” Barack Obama, President of the United States

“While I believe that this issue should be decided by the states and by legislatures, not the federal judiciary, I also believe in the rule of law. The state of Georgia is subject to the laws of the United States, and we will follow them.”

“It’s a national victory – and it means that soon, thousands of loving, committed couples throughout the United States – including our state of Georgia – will be able to say ‘I do’ and at last be respected under the law. Jeff Graham, Georgia Equality

Georgia’s Governor Nathan Deal

This is a great day in America. The Supreme Court made the right decision today, a decision that is long-overdue. No government has the right to authorize whom a person should love. And it is better to love than to hate. As a nation, we cannot say we are committed to equality, if we do not mandate equality for every citizen. You cannot have equality for some in America and not equality for all. This is another major step down a very long road toward the realization of a fair and just society. John Lewis, US House of Representatives

“Proud to celebrate a historic victory for marriage equality—& the courage & determination of LGBT Americans who made it possible” Hillary Clinton, former first lady & 2016 Presidential Candidate

“The Supreme Court is completely out of control, making laws on their own, and has become a public opinion poll instead of a judicial body...let’s just get rid of the court. Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that.” Gov. Bobby Jindal, 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate

“I believe this Supreme Court decision is a grave mistake. We need a conservative president who will appoint men and women to the Court who will faithfully interpret the Constitution without injecting their own political agendas. As a result of this decision, the only alternative left for the American people is to support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to reaffirm the ability of the states to continue to define marriage,” Gov. Scott Walker, 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate

42: July 3, 2015